Amit K. Bhardwaj (17 January 1983 – 15 January 2022) was an Indian businessman who founded Amaze Mining and Blockchain Research Limited which ran GB [Gainbitcoin] Miners among other bitcoin-related businesses and projects, these have been described as various types of Ponzi schemes.
Amit Bhardwaj | |
|---|---|
| Born | Amit K. Bhardwaj 17 January 1983 India |
| Died | 15 January 2022 (aged 38) |
| Alma mater | Mahatma Gandhi Mission's College of Engineering and Technology |
| Occupation(s) | Bitcoin miner, entrepreneur |
| Known for | GB Miners Amaze Mining and Blockchain Research Limited |
In April 2018, Gainbitcoin was found to be one of the biggest bitcoin scams.[1] The cyber cell of Pune Police arrested Bhardwaj and his brothers along with co-founders of GB Miners - Nikunj Jain and Sahil Baghla for running a US$300 million cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme. Bhardwaj was indicted for running a pyramid scheme in relation to the MCAP token taken out by Gainbitcoin and was produced before a special court on 5 April 2018.[2][3]
So far, more than eight people have been arrested and all of them were associated with Gainbitcoin and CEO Bhardwaj.[4]
Early life and education
editBhardwaj was born in India on 17 January 1983. He attended Kendriya Vidyalaya (1998–2000). He later graduated from Mahatma Gandhi Mission's College of Engineering and Technology, Nanded, Maharashtra (2000–2004) with a B. Tech in computer science and engineering. [5]
Career
editIn 2016, Amit founded Amaze Mining and Blockchain Research Limited, an altcoin mining technology firm.[6] He founded GB Miners, an Indian bitcoin mining pool in 2016, which was later revealed to be a Ponzi scam.[7]
Gainbitcoin and GBMiners
editIn a series of interviews Bhardwaj gave to The Caravan in 2017, he first claimed to not have any part in Gainbitcoin and that he knew of it only as a cloud-mining company, but later argued that he hid his involvement as a "PR strategy". He also misrepresented total investment in Gainbitcoin and admitted to inflating the figure on the company's website. Bhardwaj also denied any links between Gainbitcoin and GBMiners, though many of the former's investors believed the latter to be the minepool.[8]
Personal life and death
editBhardwaj suffered from several kidney ailments toward the end of his life. He died after suffering a cardiac arrest on 15 January 2022, at the age of 38.[9]
See also
edit- Bitconnect, India-based bitcoin Ponzi scheme
- Cryptocurrency and crime
Further reading
editReferences
edit- ^ "8 arrested as Pune police unplug 'multi-level marketing' bitcoin fraud". Hindustan Times. 4 April 2018.
- ^ Khatri, Bhumika. "Two Startup Founders Arrested In Connection With Amit Bhardwaj's $300 Mn Cryptocurrency Ponzi Scheme". Inc42.
- ^ "Amit Bhardwaj next wants to take his cryptocurrency MLM scheme international". FactorDaily. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
- ^ Banerjee, Shoumojit (5 April 2018). "Bitcoin fraud unearthed in Pune, 8 held". The Hindu.
- ^ Anton, Mike. "Crypto News". Retrieved 14 August 2021.
- ^ "Amit Bhardwaj explains the Bitcoin market", businesszone.co.uk,.
- ^ "Cracks appear in Bitcoin Ponzi king Amit Bhardwaj's empire". FactorDaily. 6 November 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- ^ Thaker, Aria. "Promise and peril in the Indian bitcoin economy". The Caravan. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- ^ Anapam, Suprita (15 January 2022). "Amit Bhardwaj: The Man Behind $2.7 Bn Crypto Ponzi Scheme Dies From Cardiac Arrest". Inc42. Retrieved 15 January 2022.